Useless bail? Magaya languishes in prison as 12 heavily-armed police officers & CIOs vow to re-arrest him for fresh charges

HARARE – Walter Magaya, the controversial leader of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, remains incarcerated despite being granted US$3,000 bail by the High Court in Harare yesterday. In a dramatic turn of events, Magaya opted to stay behind bars rather than face immediate re-arrest on a fresh set of charges, marking the 12th day of his detention since his initial arrest on November 1.

The decision to remain in prison effectively renders the US$3,000 bail a wasted expense, as Magaya would have been promptly returned to remand prison upon his release. This unusual move underscores the severity of the situation facing the embattled preacher, who is currently battling a deluge of fraud and rape allegations.

News of Magaya’s impending re-arrest emerged as twelve heavily armed officers from the Zimbabwean Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were reportedly stationed at Harare Remand Prison yesterday, poised to take him back into custody the moment he walked free.

Adding fuel to the fire, intelligence sources within Zimbabwe’s secret service, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), have revealed that a police officer has come forward with allegations that his daughter was also raped by Magaya. This development has further intensified the already volatile situation surrounding the charismatic yet controversial cleric.

A senior CIO officer has allegedly vowed that Magaya will be taken back into custody, signalling a coordinated effort to ensure his re-detention despite the bail granted by Justice Mandaza. This suggests a determination within certain circles to keep Magaya behind bars as investigations into the various allegations against him continue.

The charges against Magaya are multifaceted, encompassing both fraud and rape allegations. The fraud charges stem from a failed housing and investment scheme operated under his companies, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd.

Prosecutors allege that Magaya and his wife, Tendai, who were also arrested and granted US$300 bail each last week, misrepresented to their followers that they had secured vast tracts of land for residential projects in various locations across the country, including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame, and Nyatsime.

The State claims that the firms collected approximately US$50,000 and R190,000 from prospective homeowners for stands that never materialised. The Magayas, who are directors of Planet Africa and Yadah Connect, are accused of conniving to defraud PHD Ministries congregants and other homeseekers through these misrepresentations.

It is alleged that in 2016, the Magayas held a church service at PHD Ministries, where they told congregants that there was land available for development. Magaya allegedly announced that God had instructed him to assist members of the church and others to build houses, instructing those interested to purchase the land from Planet Africa.

The prosecution alleges that Magaya and his wife produced and distributed a pamphlet with pictures of the purported land, further misleading potential investors. They are also accused of advertising mining, farming, and beekeeping projects, claiming these initiatives would assist members in building their houses.

The complainants, believing the representations made by Magaya and his wife, paid for the stands at the church offices during the same year. Memoranda of understanding were signed between the accused and the complainants, in which Planet Africa allegedly misrepresented that it had been allocated land by the Local Government and Public Works ministry, knowing full well that no such allocation had been made.

To maintain the complainants’ hope, the Magayas allegedly approached former central bank governor Gideon Gono in 2017, seeking a farming contract at New Donnington Farm on a lease basis for a year. They then transported the congregants to the farm in Norton, falsely claiming ownership. The complainants later discovered that the farm belonged to Gono.

The State alleges that PHD Ministries received US$1,600 and R5,000, while Planet Africa (Private) Limited received a total of US$27,300. Yadah Connect is said to have received US$21,340, R190,000, and ZWD1,000, with no recoveries made.

In his bail application, Magaya vehemently denied the rape charges, dismissing them as fabrications orchestrated by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. Represented by lawyer Admire Rubaya, Magaya accused the commission of misusing its powers to force the complainants into concocting allegations against him.

Rubaya argued that the commission was engaged in “a clear and brazen abuse of the criminal justice system,” accusing it of “grandstanding and playing to the cameras” to appear as though it was defending women’s rights. He asserted that Magaya was the victim of a calculated campaign designed to vilify and assassinate his character.

Magaya further claimed that the rape complaints were not voluntary but were made after adverts were flighted in the media inviting alleged victims to approach the Gender Commission. He maintained his innocence, stating that he did not unlawfully and intentionally have sexual intercourse with the alleged complainants.

Magaya also rejected claims that he interfered with the complainants, arguing that he does not control the police and cannot be persecuted for the alleged conduct of other individuals not connected to him. The high-profile preacher, who has previously faced a number of legal disputes, said his detractors were working “day and night” to destroy him and his ministry.

As it stands, Prophet Walter Magaya remains in prison. His bail papers were not signed yesterday, and his legal team is returning to court today in an effort to get them processed. The matter is scheduled to return to the Harare Magistrates’ Court on November 18 for routine remand.